IOL Injector

ABSTRACT

An injector for intraocular lenses has a housing and a plunger movable within said housing. An elastomeric sleeve is sized and shaped to fit around a portion of the plunger, providing damping friction opposing the movement of the plunger. The sleeve is sterile and disposable, allowing a new sleeve to be used for each procedure.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/095,860, filed Sep. 10, 2008, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to instruments for eye surgery and, more particularly, to an injector for expressing an intraocular lens (IOL) from a lens injection cartridge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Removing an injured or diseased lens from the eye and replacing it with a foldable, artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is an accepted ophthalmic procedure. The use of hydrogels, silicones and soft acrylics have made replacement IOLs easy to fold, and a number of techniques have been developed to fold the IOL and inject it through an incision smaller than would be required if the IOL were unfolded.

One such technique is to place the IOL into an injector cartridge and use as specially-designed injector tool to push the IOL from the cartridge and express it into the capsular bag. A typical cartridge will have an interior chamber into which the IOL is inserted and a nozzle communicating with the interior chamber. In use, the tip of the nozzle is inserted through an incision made in the eye. Certain cartridges are designed to fold or roll the IOL as it passes through the chamber, while others are designed to open to allow the IOL to be positioned therein, then are closed to fold or roll the IOL and hold the IOL in that position.

Injectors for use with IOL cartridges are well-known and typically comprise a hollow body with a station at one end designed to accept a cartridge that has been preloaded with an IOL. A plunger assembly is slidably received within the injector body and has plunger a handle which extends from the other end of the body. To express the IOL from the cartridge the plunger handle is advanced toward the cartridge until the plunger end contacts the IOL. Continued advance of the plunger end forces the IOL from the cartridge body through the cartridge nozzle and into the eye.

In some injectors the plunger is threadably attached to the injector body and is advanced by turning the plunger, with the rate of advance determined by the pitch of the threads formed on the body and the plunger. Other plungers are slidably received by the injector body and are advanced by pushing the plunger by hand Such injectors may have a guide formed on the interior of the injector body that keeps the plunger moving in a straight line when it is advanced manually. One such type of guide comprises a groove formed on the interior surface of the body and a peg formed on the plunger which fits into and is guided by the groove.

Advancing the plunger manually requires the user to “feel” the changes in resistance to movement that occurs when the IOL is pushed through the cartridge body and nozzle. In some cartridges, a central passageway is formed asymmetrically to roll or fold the IOL as it is pushed through. As the rolling or folding occurs, the resistance to motion changes. Similarly, when the IOL is to be expressed from the cartridge and into the eye, it must pass through a nozzle which is narrowed and which requires a different amount of force to move the IOL.

Prior art injectors have used expedients such as internal or external springs to apply a force opposing the movement of the plunger. This force is intended to damp the movement of the plunger creating a more secure feel to the operation of the injector and giving the user more control over the movement of the plunger.

While the use of springs has added a degree of control, the presence of the springs makes the injector more difficult to assemble and sterilize, and the characteristics of the spring may change over time as the instrument is re-used.

I have determined that adding a damping sleeve to an internal portion of the plunger adds a degree of control. Preferably, the sleeve is disposable meaning that a new sleeve is used each time the injector is used so that the issue of wear is obviated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide IOL injectors having an enhanced degree and feel of control of the plunger as it is advanced through the injector.

It is a further object of the present invention to make the enhanced control feature simple and economical to use.

It is yet another feature of the present invention to make the element that provides the additional control in a disposable form so that a fresh element can be used with each use of the injector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and further objects of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an IOL injector embodying certain principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the injector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a lateral sectional view of the injector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 a first perspective view of the injector plunger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a second perspective view of the injector plunger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail of the plunger of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a lateral elevation view of a plunger sleeve;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the sleeve of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a partial lateral sectional view of the plunger shown in FIG. 5 with the sleeve applied; and

FIG. 11 is a view along 11-11 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the following describes a preferred embodiment or embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that this description is made by way of example only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It is expected that alterations and further modifications, as well as other and further applications of the principles of the present invention will occur to others skilled in the art to which the invention relates and, while differing from the foregoing, remain within the spirit and scope of the invention as herein described and claimed. Where means-plus-function clauses are used in the claims such language is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited functions and not only structural equivalents but equivalent structures as well.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, two structures that perform the same function within an environment described above may be equivalent structures.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 identifies an IOL injector embodying certain aspects of the present invention. Injector 10 has an injector body 12 which slidably receives a plunger 14 at one end thereof (herein referred to as the proximal end). A cartridge holding station 16 is formed at the other end of injector body 12 (herein referred to as the distal end), which is sized and shaped to receive and hold an IOL-containing cartridge 18. Cartridge 18 has an IOL already preloaded therewithin.

Referring now to FIG. 2, plunger 14 is shown as having a handle portion 20 terminating in flange 22 to which a finger grip 24 is attached. Plunger 14 also comprises a pusher portion 26 which terminates in a pusher tip 28 which, when handle 20 is advanced into body 12, enters cartridge 16 and expresses the IOL held therein through cartridge nozzle 30. A spring 32 is positioned around handle portion 20 and acts to dampen the movement of plunger 14 as will be described.

Referring now to FIG. 3, injector 10 is shown in a lateral sectional view. Body 12 is hollow and is closed off at the proximal end 34 by cap 36. Preferably, cap 36 is removably attached to body 12 to allow plunger 14 to be removed from injector 10 so that plunger 14 and body 12 may be sterilized after use.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it can be seen that cap 36 has an outer cylindrical wall 38 terminating at one end in an integrally formed flange 40 which acts as a finger grip when injector 10 is being used. As seen in FIG. 4, cap 36 has a centrally-formed aperture 42 positioned on flange 40 through which handle portion 20 of plunger 14 passes and is slidably held.

Plunger 14 further comprises a barrel portion 42 formed intermediate handle portion 20 and pusher portion 26. As seen in FIG. 4, barrel portion 42 is larger in diameter, cap aperture 42 which prevents plunger 14 from being withdrawn from injector 10 so long as cap 36 is attached to body 12. Pusher portion 26 is integrally formed with barrel portion 44.

Plunger 14 is constrained to move in a straight line when it is advanced into or retracted from body 12 by a guide pin 46 which is received by a guide slot 48 formed along the interior surface of body 12. As shown, guide slot 48 extends for substantially the length of body 12 and guide pin 46 slides within and remains within guide slot 48 as plunger 14 is extended from and pushed through body 12. This keeps tip 28 properly aligned to contact an IOL held in cartridge 16 and move it toward nozzle 30. This feature is shown in further detail in FIG. 11.

Referring now to FIG. 5, plunger 14 and cap 36 are shown detached from body 12. As shown, handle portion 20 is pulled outward with barrel portion 44 within and concealed by cap 36. As described above, the enlarged diameter of barrel portion 44 with respect to cap aperture 42 prevents plunger assembly 14 from disengaging cap 36. Plunger assembly 14 can be disengaged from cap 36 by removing finger grip 24 and unscrewing handle flange 22.

Referring now to FIG. 6, plunger assembly 14 is shown advanced through cap 36 with barrel portion 44 and guide pin 46 revealed.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an enlarged view of the barrel portion of plunger 14 is shown. Preferably, barrel portion 44 has a generally cylindrical body portion 50 terminating in a first frustoconical end 52 and a second beveled end 54. In the embodiment shown, frustoconical end 52 faces the direction in which plunger 14 is advanced into injector body 12.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a plan view of a barrel sleeve 56 is shown. Sleeve 56 is formed of an elastomeric material having controlled lubricious properties. Preferably, elastomeric materials such as silicone, rubber and the like may be used.

As seen in FIG. 8, sleeve 56 has a first body wall 58 preferably formed as a right circular cylinder. The shape of body wall 58 can be seen in FIG. 9. Preferably, the internal dimensions of body wall 58 closely match the external dimensions of barrel body portion 50.

As seen in FIG. 8, sleeve 56 terminates in a tapered, frustoconical wall 60 which defines a sleeve mouth 62. Preferably, the interior configuration and dimensions of sleeve body wall 60 closely match the exterior configuration and dimensions of frustoconical section 52 of barrel 44. As seen in FIG. 8, sleeve 56 has a pin aperture 64 formed through body wall 58.

Referring now to FIG. 10, sleeve 56 is shown positioned on barrel 44 of plunger assembly 14. As seen, pin aperture 64 is sized and positioned to engage guide pin 44, sleeve 58 closely engages the exterior surface of barrel body portion 50 and frustoconical section 60 closely engages frustoconical section 52 of barrel 44. Pusher portion 26 extends through sleeve mouth 62 as shown.

Referring now to FIG. 11, sleeve 56 is shown positioned on barrel 44 engaging sleeve body 58 and interior wall 66 of body 12. Thus positioned, sleeve 56 provides resistance to the movement of plunger 14 through body 12. The amount and character of this resistance can be altered by selecting various materials and thicknesses for sleeve 56. Sleeve 56 remains in contact with interior wall 66 throughout the forward motion of plunger assembly 14 through body 12 and is held in position by the engagement of body wall 58 with barrel body portion 50, by the engagement of frustoconical wall 60 with frustoconical portion 52 and by the engagement of guide pin 44 with aperture 64.

After the injector has been used to express the IOL from cartridge 16, plunger 14 is disengaged from body 12 and the used sleeve 56 is removed and discarded. Thereafter, plunger 14, cap 36 and body 12 are sterilized for re-use. After sterilization and prior to surgery, a medical assistant will apply a new sleeve 56 to plunger 14, observing good sterile technique, and then assemble plunger 14 to body 12 so that injector 10 is ready for use during the next surgery.

Preferably, cap 36 is mounted to body 12 without requiring the use of fasteners, making it easy to disassemble and reassemble injector 10.

The present embodiment has shown the use of sleeve 56 with a damping spring 32. It is contemplated that such an arrangement can be used. It is also contemplated that other damping devices may be combined with the use of sleeve 56 with the goal being to produce an injector 10 that has a comfortable and reproducible feel to a surgeon and will allow the surgeon to accurately express an IOL from a cartridge successfully.

It is further contemplated that selecting a desired material for sleeve 56 and a desired stiffness for spring 32 will provide a number of different handling characteristics for injector 10.

It is also contemplated that the appropriate selection of a material and size for sleeve 56 will enable injector 10 to be used without a damping spring 32. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An injector, said injector of the type having a hollow injector housing having a distal end and a proximal end and a plunger sized and shaped to fit into said housing, said injector comprising: a central passage formed through said housing, said passage having an inner wall, at least a barrel portion of said plunger sized and shaped to slide into and move along at least a portion of said central passage; and means for damping the motion of said plunger through said central passage, said damping means including an elastomeric sleeve sized and shaped to fit around said barrel portion whereby said sleeve contacts said barrel portion and said central passage portion.
 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said central passage has a guide groove formed axially therealong, and said barrel portion has a guide pin sized and shaped to fit within and travel along said guide groove.
 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein sleeve has a pin aperture formed therethrough, said pin aperture sized and positioned to fit over said guide pin when said sleeve is placed on said barrel portion.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said barrel portion has a tapered portion formed at one end thereof, and said sleeve has a tapered portion formed thereon sized to fit over said tapered barrel portion.
 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is formed from a disposable material.
 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is formed from rubber.
 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is formed from silicone.
 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said damping means further includes a damping spring.
 9. An injector, said injector of the type having a hollow injector housing having a distal end and a proximal end and a plunger sized and shaped to fit into said housing, said injector comprising: a central passage formed through said housing, said passage having an inner wall, at least a barrel portion of said plunger sized and shaped to slide into and move along at least a portion of said central passage, said barrel portion having a tapered portion formed thereon at one end thereof, said barrel portion end facing said distal housing end; and means for damping the motion of said plunger through said central passage, said damping means including an elastomeric sleeve sized and shaped to fit around said barrel portion whereby said sleeve contacts said barrel portion and said central passage portion.
 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said central passage has a guide groove formed axially therealong, and said barrel portion has a guide pin sized and shaped to fit within and travel along said guide groove.
 11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein sleeve has a pin aperture formed therethrough, said pin aperture sized and positioned to fit over said guide pin when said sleeve is placed on said barrel portion.
 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said sleeve is formed from a disposable material.
 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said sleeve is formed from rubber.
 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said sleeve is formed from silicone.
 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said damping means further includes a damping spring. 